ZELMIRA

by Gioacchino Rossini
(1792 - 1868)

Characters: Zelmira, Emma, Ilos, Antenor, Polydorus, Leucippus, Eacides, High Priest. Chorus of maids in waiting, People of Lesbos, warriors of Mytilene, soldiers of Ilos.

Preamble.

The action is set in the isle of Lesbos, which has lone been ruled by King Polydorus, who is beloved of his people, of his daughter Zelmira, and of Ilos, a Trojan prince, her husband. However, when Ilos leaves to wage war, Azor, Lord of Mytilene, invades the now defenceless island, and supplants Polydorus, who had offended him by refusing him his daughter's hand. His first concern is to kill the king. For this reason, Zelmira hides her father among the tombs of' the kings of Lesbos, and, making believe that she hated him, spreads word that he has taken refuge in the temple of Ceres. Azor has the temple burnt down, so that the common belief is that Polydorus is dead. Meanwhile, Antenor, pretender to the throne of Mytilene, kills Azor, with the help of Leucippus. At this point the opera begins.

ACT I

The action starts outside the city walls. The army is mourning the assassination of' Azor, and tells Leucippus, who has hurried to join it, that the name of the assassin is unknown. Leucippis proclaims Antenonas as successor to Azor, and plots with him to set him on the throne. The only obstacles to the plan are Zelmira and her young son. Therefore Antenor decides to accuse Zelmira of the death of her own father, and hastens to spread the accusation through the ranks of the army. Zelmira, accompanied by her friend Emma, prepares to enter the tombs of the kings of Lesbos to comfort her father. During an affecting meeting, they express their hopes and fears under the hard blows of fate. Gathered before the temple of Jupiter, the people welcome the victorious return of Ilos, impatient now to see once more his beloved wife and young son. At last the pair can embrace, but their joy is overshadowed by the princess's concern. She is uncertain whether to reveal to llos what is being planned in the island. Thereupon, Emma appears to say that Antenor has accused Zelmira of the death of Azor. Antenor and Leucippus lie and deceive so cunningly that they persuade llos himself that he has been betrayed, along with Polydorus, by Zelmira. When Antenor is crowned, Leucippus craftily persuades the Trojan prince that when his wife rushed to his aid, she was in fact intending to stab him. Despite her protestations of innocence, Zelmira is accused on all sides and led off to prison.

ACT 2

The scene opens in the throne - room of the royal palace. Antenor, who has intercepted a letter from Zelmira to llos, in which she denies the charge of parricide, infers that Polydorus is still alive. He sets a close watch over Zelmira. Meanwhile, outside the city walls, llos mourns his disappointed love, whereupon Polydorus appears. Both give way to exultant joy, and Ilos explains the truth, disproving the calumnies against Zelmira. Antenor, having discovered that llos has planned the flight of the old king, imprisons Polydorus. Zelmira, brave and great - hearted, offers her life in exchange for her father's. The people are split into two factions, for and against her. Emma, who discovers that the two accomplices plan to kill their prisoners, hastens to seek help from llos. The last scene is set in the prison of Lesbos. Zelmira weeps at her fate and the failure of her beloved husband to come to her aid. Suddenly, she hears men - at - arms running near. It is Ilos come to free her, and cast into prison the felonous usurpers.

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Gioacchino Rossini
1792 - 1868